Leahi Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Honolulu

Le'ahi Bar, Oahu – Where the Mai Tais Are Cold and the Garlic Shrimp Could Start a Street War

You know a place is good when you sit down for a quick bite and end up planning your whole trip around a waitress named Shannon who, I swear to God, must moonlight as a rogue travel agent or an undercover concierge.

Le’ahi Bar isn’t trying to be flashy. It’s perched like a lazy cat on the corner of a building next to the Hyatt, just close enough to Waikiki’s chaos to smell the sunscreen but far enough to feel like you've ducked into a secret. The patio alone is worth the price of admission—views of downtown, a generous slice of ocean, and enough breeze to make you forgive whatever bad choices brought you to the tourist trap next door.

I started with the oyster shooters because I have a thing for raw mollusks and risky behavior. These were the kind of oyster shooters that make you reevaluate life, love, and your cholesterol. Fresh, briny, and spiked with a little something that whispered “you’re on vacation, act like it.”

Then came the poke—properly done. None of that over-sauced mainland nonsense. Clean, vibrant, local. It tasted like someone’s grandma made it, and I’d kiss that woman on the mouth.

Shannon, the aforementioned goddess of hospitality, ran the show like she owned stock in the place. She dropped drink recommendations and travel tips with the ease of a seasoned local and the precision of a sniper. Her mai tai suggestion nearly knocked me into a state of blissful silence, which, if you know me, is a miracle.

The burger? Damn solid. But the garlic shrimp—sweet hell—was better than anything I’ve had on the North Shore, and I’ve waited in line at every shrimp truck on that stretch of coast. Shannon recommended it with the confidence of a woman who knows good food and probably lifts surfboards before breakfast.

In short: go to Le’ahi Bar. Ask for Shannon. Order the shrimp. Drink a mai tai. Stay longer than you planned. This place doesn’t just serve food; it reminds you why you travel in the...

During our week in Waikiki, we had a lot of dinners to fill. After several crowded meals packed with tourists, we somehow found the Leahi Bar & Grill - it was a refreshing change. Yes, we are tourists too, but as tourists, aren't we always looking for a more intimate, local experience?

Leahi Bar & Grill doesn't seem to show up under restaurant searches, only bars. It's right smack in the middle of everything, just over a block from the water, but you might miss it walking by. The dining is a mix of a large outdoor balcony and indoor space forming a large lanai; comfortably furnished, not too big or too small and a bit funkier than the surrounding establishments - check! What do I know about Hawaiian local, but it felt more local; about 2/3 full on a weekday, with some nice live music and a distinct lack of the Vegas Strip glamour found at the beach.

Being a bar first, they had a good selection of fun tropical cocktails, as well as several beer and wine choices. The food menu was a step up from pub/bar food in both selection and quality: a small but varied assortment of burgers, chicken, fish, salads and appetizers, leaning overall towards light gourmet than greasy pub. My son and wife had burgers and I had the catch of the day with Peruvian sauce. The burgers were big, juicy and loaded with fries. The fish was perfectly cooked, with an excellent sauce, tasty rice and salad. Service was friendly and prompt throughout.

If you are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki beach, the Leahi Bar & Grill is an excellent choice to catch your breath, settle in and enjoy some first-rate...

Definitely worst experience ever. We had a server named Breeuh. My husband handed her a portion of the tip and I was reaching in my bag to hand the other cash over and before she realized I was pulling cash out too....she loudly started saying OH WOW, so generous..you shouldn't have" The entire patio started to stare and watch and she kept going saying $3 on a $50 tab wow your so generous you should really learn restaurant etiquette, wow mr. money bags I seen all those stacks of cash in your bag, you can afford it, and continued loudly harassing us. Repeating the same types of things wow so generous just basically being sarcastic and causing a scene.. The entire patio was appalled. one table said they would not be tipping her and another said they were not tipping either. I asked her to get the manager and she said oh no baby it's okay, so I went and found a manager myself, he didn't seem to know what to say or do other than say I'm sorry about that. Next day I called back and spoke with a manager named Bri and The left my name and number for the owners to call me back and they never called so they clearly didn't care. but they could have done more than said "sorry" comp my meal, offer dessert, ANYTHING. Even a call back the next day to truly apologize and let me know they don't stand for that kinda treatment of guests..really anything heartfelt to try to...